The Cities Program—an innovative, non-major program that is open to about 15-20 talented and motivated students in each entering class—examines cities and urban issues, past and present, in the United States and throughout the world. These students take a sequence of four courses together for the first year under the guidance and supervision of a small group of dedicated faculty members.
The urban studies major provides a broad understanding of how urban dynamics shape both global interdependence and local spaces. It emphasizes how cities are increasingly critical to the organization of economic, social, and cultural activities that shape and transform human experience. The major provides opportunities for community learning in Hartford, approved, selective courses at the University of Connecticut or the University of Hartford, study away in international cities, as well as internships in a variety of urban settings.
The minor in Urban Studies helps students develop a sophisticated grasp of the rapidly evolving reality of how dynamic urban centers and regions drive a global system and how cities are increasingly critical to the organization of economic, social and cultural activities. The minor draws from nearly 70 urban courses taught by a variety of faculty within and across many departments and programs in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
This minor is facilitated by academic programming and initiatives at CUGS and features curricular collaboration among faculty representing the departments or programs of Anthropology, Art History, International Studies, Language and Culture Studies, Sociology, Urban Studies, Women, Gender and Sexuality, and the Office of Study Away. Opportunities for students include studying away at Fudan University in Shanghai, traveling to China for a summer field course, taking courses with Fudan University faculty at Trinity, and grants for summer field research in Chinese cities.